Hayao Miyazaki's 'Kiki's Delivery Service' (1989)

About this episode

Caitlin discusses Hayao Miyazaki's film 'Kiki's Delivery Service' and its themes of self-discovery and friendship.

In this episode, I talk about Hayao Miyazaki’s 1989 film, 'Kiki’s Delivery Service.' It’s about a 13-year-old witch who must spend a year away from home, learning to live independently and share her gifts. As Kiki opens a delivery service and begins to grow weary and uncertain, she meets women who offer her refuge, wisdom, and friendship. I talk about how this film explores what it means to lose your magic and to slowly find it again. I recorded this at a time when I’m learning to believe in myself again after great loss.

People in this episode

Host: Caitlin

Topics covered

• animation
• coming of age
• self-discovery
• friendship
• loss
• independence

Keywords

• Kiki's Delivery Service
• Hayao Miyazaki
• animation
• self-discovery
• friendship
• loss
• witch

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Kiki's Delivery Service

More episodes of Her Head in Films

• William Wyler's 'The Heiress' (1949) · May 5, 2026 · 1h 38m
• Gabriel Axel's 'Babette's Feast' (1987) · April 7, 2026 · 1h 19m
• Douglas Sirk's 'All That Heaven Allows' (1955) · March 3, 2026 · 1h 32m
• Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 'The Red Shoes' (1948) · February 3, 2026 · 1h 20m
• Dianne Jackson's 'The Snowman' (1982) · December 7, 2025 · 1h 1m
• Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Conversation' (1974) · November 4, 2025 · 1h 12m